ramsey



3 Sheets-Sheet` 1.

(No Model.)

rC. H. RA'MSEY.

ADJUSTABLE BURIAL GASKET.

No. 565,566. Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

'me NoRms PETERS co, PNnToLrrMo., wmncmn. u. c.

s sheets-smet` 2.

'Patented Aug. 11,1896.`

JIA n? kN@ Model.)

G H RAMSEY ADJUSTABLE BURIAL GASKET.

(No Model.)

s sheets-sheet 3. C. H. ,RA'MSEY. ADJUSTABLBBURIL GASKET.

Nq. 565,566. PatentedAug. 11, 18.96.

Y N fr indicated line 4 4 of Fig.

of several parts.

UNITED STATES PATENTW OFFICE.

CREED H. RAMSEY, OF PLEASANTVILLE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN PENNINGTON, OF SAME PLACE.

ADJUSTABLE BURIAL-GASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,566, dated August 11, 1896i. Application filed June 25,1895, Serial No. 553,988. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, OREED l-I. RAMSEY, a a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pleasantville, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented an Adjustable Burial-Casket, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to adjust a casket, coffin, or burial-case to cadavers of varying lengths.

My invention consists in the constructiony arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- `Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete casket. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the casket on the indicated line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe casket, one side panel being removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on the Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation on the indicated line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed perspectives of structural elements. Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, illustrate a specific construction of my improvement. Fig. 8 is a plan of the casket with the cover removed. Fig. 9 is an inverted plan of the cover. rlhe dotted lines in Figs. 8 and 9 indicate limits of movement Fig. 10 is a plan of the main bottom and side panels. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 11 11 of Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 12 is asectional elevation on the indicated line 12 12 ofV Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the indicated line 13 13 of Fig. 8. Fig. 14 is apen spective of a bar employed in my construction. Fig 15 is a bar which may be employed in my construction as a substitute for the bar shown in Fig. 14. Figs. S to 15, inclusive, illustrate a construction differing from that shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive.

In the construction of the casket as shown the numeral 10 designates a bottom of alength and Width approximating to the interior length.

and width of a completed casket-frame when constructed to the minimum size. Each end portion of the bottom 10 is cut away on each side, producing bossed portionsl 11 12, at the center of greater width than said end portions.

Panels 13 14 are fixed at their lower edges to the outer edges of the bossed portions 11 12 of the bottom 10, and extend upward at right angles to said bottom to form the central portions of the sides of the casket. The panels 13 14 overlap the bossed portions of the bottom at both ends, respectively, thus forming notches or seats 15, two of which are shown in Fig. 4. Auxiliary bottoms 16 17 are provided, the combined length of which approximates to the length of the bottom 10', and the width of which corresponds to the width of the end portions of said bottom 10.

The auxiliary bottoms 16 17 are located beneath, parallel to, and in sliding contact with the bottom 10, and are in alinement with each other. A leaf-spring 1S is fixed in a groove in the auxiliary bottom 1G and over laps the adjacent end portion of the auxiliary bottom 17 to a position in a groove therein. A lug 19, fixed to and projecting from the upper face of the leaf-spring 1S, engages in one or another of the notches 20, formed in the auxiliary bottom 17` within the groove. Side boards 21 22 are fixed tothe side edges of the auxiliary bottom 1G and extend upwardly at right angles thereto. Each of the side boards 21 22 23 24 is notched at 25 to admit the bossed portions 11A 12 of the bottom 10 by movement longitudinally of said bottom. Guide-bars 26, triangular in crosssection, are fixed to the inner faces of the side boards 21 22 23 24, and engage and form slide-bearings for the bottom 10. It will be observed that the side boards are located between and in sliding contact with the panels 13 14. Clips 27, preferably hinged, Fig. 7, are fixed to the panels 13 14 and overlap and engage with the yside boards 21 22 23 24. End pieces 28 29 are fixed to the outer ends of the auxiliary bottom 16 17 and the side boards 21 22 23 24. Notches are formed in the adjacent ends of the side boards, and flush-plugs 30 31, having tenons on the ends thereof, are fitted in said notches, the upper faces of said plugs forming a continuation of the top edges of the said side boards. The cover of the casket is formed in three sections 32 34. on the top of the side boards 21 22 and end piece 28, and is provided with an aperture 35,

IOO

iitted with a glass plate 36, slidingly mounted in seats in said section. The section 33 is mounted on the top of the side boards 23 24 and end piece 29. A pair of connecting-bars 37 33 are mounted on the inner end portion of the section 32 and overlap the adjacent end portion of section 33 at the sides of said sections. Leaf-springs 39 are fixed to the inner faces of the bars 37 38, and bent portions 40 on said springs engage one or another of notches in the section The section 34 of the cover forms a panel correspondingwith the panels 13 14, and rest upon and overlap the adjacent end portions of the sections 32 33. Grooves 41 42 are formed in the section 34, and cross-bars 43 44, fixed to the inner ends of the sections 32 33, project beyond their supports and into said grooves. Ordinary means may be provided for securing the cover to the sidesA and ends of the casket.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 to 15, inclusive, the sides of the casket are shown to be inclined outwardly relative to each other. The bottom 10 is provided with a plurality of slots 50 51, in which are mounted for travel screws 52 53, which screws are seated in the sections 16 17, forming the auX- iliary bottom, which construction takes the place of the bar 18, heretofore described. It will be observed that in this connection the guide-bars 26 26 are omitted, and the stability of the several sections forming the bottom is sustained by the formation of shoulders 54, four in number, on the bossed portions 11 12 of the main bottom, which shoulders it and travel within notches formed in the side pieces 21 22 23 24. It will be observed that in this connection the bars 37 and springs 39, heretofore described, are omitted, and bars 55 or 56, Figs. 14 and 15, substituted therefor, as follows: The bar 55 is provided with screw-seats 57 58 in its central portion, and is secured by means of screws to the central portion of the cap-piece 34 of the cover, one of said bars being positioned on each side of the casket and extended longitudinally thereof beyond the side panels. Longitudinal grooves are formed in the sections 32 33 of the cover, on opposite sides thereof, in which grooves the bar 55 is movable. Slots 53 59 are formed in the bar 55, and screws 60 61, mounted in the sections 32 33 and traversing the aforesaid grooves, pass through said slots and confine thel same or limit the longitudinal movement ofthe sections 32 32 relative to the section The bar shown in Fig. 15 and designated as 56 has the centrally-located screw-seats, but the slots 53 are omitted, and in lieu thereof the end of said bar `is bent at right angles to form a head 62, which projects inwardly, Fig. 9, and, engaging the end of a coniining strip 63, limits the longitudinal movement of the cover-sections. Notches 64 65 are formed on the inner face of the section 32 adjacent to the aperture 35, and clips 66 67 engage in said notches, which clips are fixed to one end of a cover-plate G8, mounted above and closing the said aperture, the said plate being secured at the opposite end by a latch or clip 69, of any ordinary construction.

The casket, coffin, or burial-case may be finished plain or with draperies, as desired, without altering the spirit of my invention.

The casket, coffin, or burial-case is preferably made in such length as to iit a cadaver of medium size. Then it is desired to increase the length to favor a cadaver of greater length than the medium, the end portions are separated a sufficient distance and flush plugs 30 31 inserted in their seats to prevent contraction thereof, as well as to provide a uniform edge to which a lining may be secured.

The casket, coffin, or burial-case may be lined and upholstered as desired.

That I claim is- In an adjustable casket a main bottom .having reduced end portions with slots 50, 51 therein, and bossed portions 11, 12 at the center, side panels 13, 14 xed rigidly to the bossed portions and forming parts of the sides of the casket, auxiliary bottoms 16, 17 mounted below the main bottom and overlapj ping the same, screws mounted in the auXiliary bottoms and traversing the slots in the main bottom, side boards and lend pieces fixed to the auxiliary bottoms and inclosing the main bottom, which side boards overlap the side panels and the end portions of the main bottom, a cover comprising three overlapping sections mounted on the body portion, 'bars rigidly mounted on the central section and adjustably connected to the end section, and means for securing said cover to the body portion.

@REED H. RAMSEY.

In presence of- E. WV. FRUE, J. J. DEAN.

IOO 

